News
NCCE engages youth groups at Wa on violent extremism
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Upper West Region has engaged youth groups and individuals in the Wa Municipality on the need to fight against the infiltration of violent extremism in the country.
The engagement was to educate the youth and individuals on the threat of violent extremism and terrorism and the various ways they could contribute to fighting the act for the betterment of the country.
The engagement was part of the Commission’s awareness creation and sensitization efforts under the European Union funded ‘’Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism’’ (PCVE) project.
Addressing participant, the Deputy Regional Director of the NCCE Mr. John K. Yibile said the project aimed at preventing and containing violent extremism and terrorism through the promotion of social cohesion in the five regions in the Northern , Upper West, Upper East, North East and Savannah regions and their respective neighbouring regions.
He said violent extremism was a threat to the peace of the country and stressed on the need for the youth to support the preventive measures such as creating awareness among themselves and serving as a watch dog to their various communities.
He advised the public to be vigilant in their various communities and report any suspicious moves to the authorities for investigation and immediate action.
The Wa Municipal Police Commander Assistant Superintendence of Police (ASP) Alhaji Bawah Abdul-Jalil who took the participants through peace building mechanism and National cohesion highlighted the need for a peaceful coexistence in the societies.
He said ensuring peaceful coexistence was key to preventing conflicts and violent extremism in the society and stressed on the need to respect each other’s opinion.
He said it was important for people to live in harmony by respecting the views, beliefs, culture, political parties and tradition of others.
He advised the youth against joining violent extremist who might lure and recruit them into their various groups to cause danger to the country.
Adding on, the Executive Director of the Community Development Alliance (CDA), a non-governmental organization in the region working on PCVE, Mr. Salifu Issifu Kanton said violent extremism was a serious challenge across the world hence the need for youth to be extra careful with the type of people they associated with.
He advised the public to adopt the ‘’See something, Say Something ‘’ campaign by reporting suspicious individuals or activities to the authorities for investigation and action.
He urged the youth to be agents of peace and play crucial roles to preventing conflicts in their various communities.
Some of the youth who were interviewed after the programme pledged to be ambassadors and advocates of national cohesion and peaceful co-existence in the country and to report any threat to national security for action to be taken.
Participants were taken through the causes, effects, some preventive measures of violent extremism and various ways to take during attacks from violent extremism.
FROM RAFIA ABDUL RAZAK, WA
News
Maternal mortality rate increases in Ashanti Region
The Ghana Health Service has revealed a staggering statistic of 1,000 women losing their lives during childbirth in the Ashanti Region between 2020 and 2024.
This alarming number, according to the Regional Health Director, Dr Frank Adomanko Boateng, highlights the persistent challenge of maternal mortality in Ghana, despite efforts to improve maternal healthcare.
Dr Adomanko Boateng, therefore emphasized on an urgent need for stronger interventions to curb the high rate of maternal deaths.
Speaking at the 2024 Regional Health Forum, he indicated that “Ghana is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.”
Dr Boateng stressed that time was of the essence, saying, “The clock is ticking, and we must double our efforts.”
He called for intensified measures over the next six years to bridge the gap and prevent further loss of lives.
Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio, he noted, has been declining from 760 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017.
However, “the country still faces significant challenges in reducing maternal mortality, particularly in regions like Ashanti.”
To address the issue, he said, Ghana has been working to improve maternal healthcare through various initiatives, including the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
The country aims to reduce maternal mortality by strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to quality care, and enhancing community engagement
From Kingsley E. Hope,
Kumasi
News
NTC staff demonstrate prowess in fire fighting
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on Tuesday held a sensitisation workshop on fire safety for staff of the New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator.
It created awareness on fire prevention and safety measures to prevent fire in the home or office.
During the practical session, a section of the staff were taken through fire outbreaks drills steps to take in fire .
tries his hands on
one of the traditional
way to combat fire
Nortey led the demonstration exercise
to staff before the demonstration exercise
of staff Herty Nortey to put off a fire
Can-Tamakloe trying to
extinguish the fire
Led by Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO 1) Isaac Tengfaa, the staff were taught how to use the different types of fire extinguishers to combat fire.
He said it was important for home owners and office workers to put off every electrical gadget at work before leaving for their respective home because more fires in offices occur at closing hours.
He said fire incidence often resulted from carelessness, ignorance or natural occurrence.
Supported by ADO I Richard Mensah, ADO I Eunice Ceasar and Fire woman Anita Amponsah, some of the staff tried their hands on the fire extinguishers and other modes of combatting fire.
By Linda Abrefie Wadie
